WELLINGTON Town Council has agreed to earmark £10,000 towards a detailed feasibility study into the possible reopening of the town’s railway station which it is suggested could be achieved in about five years, although it is felt this might be optimistic.

The council made this decision at Monday’s monthly meeting after hearing a presentation from Taunton Deane’s deputy leader Mark Edwards who said that without local support for the study, which is estimated to cost up to £300,000, there would be no chance of getting funding from central government for which he was pressing.

"We have to put money where our mouth is,” he said. He thought the rail service would be hugely valuable to Wellington.

Taunton Deane Borough Council has committed £40,000 to the process but as yet other partners have not come up with any funding.

Supporting the town council’s contribution, Cllr James Hunt said: "If we can’t show our commitment, how are we going to persuade any other partners."

Cllr John Thorne, who made the proposal, said there would need to be a regular rail service to make it work.

Not all councillors were convinced about the railway. Cllr Janet Lloyd said she had received complaints about the bus service between Wellington and Taunton with people not being able to get back from Taunton after 8pm.

Cllr Andrew Govier said that at the moment Wellington could not support two bus services.

Cllr Ross Henley said he was concerned about the lack of support from the Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council.